Freedom Transit (Gettysburg, PA)
Freedom Transit is the former branding of a public transit provider for the borough of Gettysburg in Adams County, Pennsylvania. Freedom Transit operated as a subsidiary of the Central Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (dba Rabbit Transit). Originally, the service operated under the Adams County Transportation Authority (in 2009), which later merged with the York County Transit Authority to create the York Adams Transportation Authority (2011). This agency amalgamated Rabbit Transit, Freedom Transit, and later, Cumberland, Franklin and Northumberland counties shared-ride agencies (2015). In late 2015, Columbia counties shared-ride program was added, then creating the CPTA. On July 1, 2016, Union, Snyder and Montour counties shared-ride programs join the CPTA.
In 2020, Freedom Transit services were merged with Rabbit Transit and all services now operate under a consistent branding of Rabbit Transit.
Routes
The Freedom Transit system was comprised of three lines that operate year-round, with five distinct route patterns. A fourth route operated as a seasonal parking circulator between the museum and visitors center during peak visitors times.
The core parts of the routes operated once hourly during daylight hours, however, during non-peak times, hours were curtailed due to low ridership.[1]
- Lincoln (red) Line: Daily service, serving Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center, with alternating trips going to either the The Outlet Shoppes (at Gettysburg), or the Eisenhower Hotel Complex on Emmitsburg Road.
- Blue Line: Tuesday to Saturday limited service, serving Chambersburg Road, Fairfield Road, "West" Gettysburg.
- Gray Line: Daily service, serving Gettysburg College, Gateway Gettysburg and York Road shopping area (US 30, east of Lincoln Square).
- Gold Line: Specially selected days, operating as a Museum and Visitors Center and Parking Circulator. This bus will not service the borough of Gettysburg.
Connecting services
Freedom Transit connected with Rabbit Transit commuter services to Harrisburg at the Gettysburg Transfer Center on Carlisle Street.
All-time roster
This list is incomplete. You can help by providing information.
The Freedom Transit bus fleet is comprised of five replica trolley buses, a 30 foot Gillig Phantom transit bus (assumed from the Rabbit Transit fleet), and cutaway vans to operate paratransit services in the borough of Gettysburg, and when necessary, on the lightly used Blue Line bus line.
Most buses in the fleet are painted a dark navy color with "Freedom Transit" written in a period style italicized typeface. A yellow relief picture of a bald eagle is shown wrapping from the left of the print and above the entire name of Freedom Transit. Some buses are temporarily wrapped, commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg and the reading of the Gettysburg Address.
| Fleet Number(s) | Thumbnail | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 216 | 2006a | Gillig | Phantom | Used on Gray Line. | |||
| 1860, 1862 | Chevrolet | Cutaway vans. Used mainly on Blue Line. | |||||
| 1861 | |||||||
| 1863-1865 | Trolley-replica buses. |
a: Fleet information is assumed on information from Rabbit Transit fleet roster.
Transfer Center
All regular route buses met at the Gettysburg Transfer Center, located on Carlisle Street, north of Lincoln Square, near the Majestic Theater. This transfer center is also near the beginning and ending point of Rabbit Express 15N Gettysburg-Harrisburg buses to and from Harrisburg during weekday commuting hours. Two early morning, and two early afternoon buses depart for Harrisburg and return, making connections with Capital Area Transit service, Rabbit Express' 83N-York-Harrisburg run, and Lebanon Transit's route 22 and route 422 commuter routes.
In addition, passengers have opportunities to connect with Amtrak and long-distance coach services at the Harrisburg Intermodal Center.
Further reading
Rabbit Transit: another subsidiary of the Central Pennsylvania Transportation Authority.
External Links
References
- ↑ Freedom Transit-Schedule & Route Map, November 2013, Gettysburg PA